Epistemic Wars of Position: Transnational Portuguese-Brazilian Conservatism and the Making of the Global Right Bloc

This paper argues that transnational Christian-conservative movements function as an epistemic bloc within the contemporary Global Right. Focusing on Veritas Liberat, a Portuguese–Brazilian movement, it examines how the organization mobilizes education, knowledge production, and movement–party linkages to contest the liberal–secular order. These practices are conceptualized as an epistemic war of position waged within civil society. Empirically, the study shows that Veritas Liberat operates as a node in transnational networks connecting conservative intellectuals, clergy, and radical-right politicians in Portugal and Brazil. Through seminars, training courses, and pedagogical initiatives, the movement frames schools, curricula, and universities as contested sites, portraying liberal education as “indoctrination” and promoting alternative epistemic frameworks. The presence of Chega MPs on the movement’s communication platforms illustrates a strategic collaboration: radical-right parties rely on civil society actors to gain political influence while advancing a shared agenda to reshape knowledge and moral norms. This alliance highlights the transnational, collective dimension of the Global Right, where movements, parties, and civic actors coordinate to challenge liberal-democratic epistemic assumptions. The findings suggest that such actors do not merely pursue incremental democratic backsliding but actively seek to establish postliberal orders grounded in alternative moral and epistemic premises.